US House to Vote on Bipartisan Farm Bill

posted by Michigan Radio Network
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2 years ago

The US House is expected to vote today on a bipartisan farm bill unveiled Tuesday. The tentative deal includes cuts in the food stamp program and a change in the agricultural subsidy system.

Under the bipartisan agreement, up to $90 per month could be cut from food stamps, affecting 850,000 recipients.

The cut also translates to about $800 million per year, or about one percent.

The announcement was made Tuesday by US Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan.

The deal also ends direct payments to farmers for planting crops. In its place a new crop insurance program.

Stabenow says the deal "puts us on the verge of enacting a five year Farm Bill that saves taxpayers billions, eliminates unnecessary subsidies, creates a more effective farm safety-net and helps farmers and businesses create jobs."

Stabenow chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee. Reports say the agreement means $8 billion from the food stamp program over the next ten years. Republicans earlier pushed for a nearly $40 billion cut.

The agreement must still be approved by Congress and signed by the president before it takes effect.